Garg's all-round effort is not enough to prevent Shinfield slumping to a losing draw

Four wickets and knock of 73 unable to produce a positive result

Shashank Garg took four wickets and top scored with 73 during Shinfield's Division 2 defeat at Sulhamstead

Berkshire Cricket League Divisions 1&2

Shinfield were unable to chase down a target of 173 during their Division 2 game at Sulhamstead.

Visiting captain Mark Terry won the toss and elected to field, a decision later justified as four wickets for Shashank Garg helped restrict Sulhamstead to a score of 172-8 from 35 overs during a rain-affected fixture.

There was also a dismissal each for Richard Madgwick, Prashant Gandhi and Naveed Naseer.

But after losing opener Tom Rich for 19, Shinfield slumped to 34-4.

Garg and Gandhi moved the score up to 73 before the latter was removed for 23.

The
former was the seventh batsman to lose his wicket, having made a top score of 37, but the away side were still three runs shy of 100 and well
below the run-rate.

Stephen
Madgwick was following him back to the pavilion four runs later, having
made one, with Patrick Stewart replacing him at the crease.

Between
him and Vikesh Patel, the pair showed some defiance, holding out to see
Shinfield to a score of 129-8 and claim eight points from a losing draw.

Captain Richard Cole got Emmbrook & Bearwood
off to a flying start during their game at Sonning 3rd
, taking three wickets to leave the villagers rattled on 39-3.

However,
the heavens soon opened and the Sonning Lane outfield quickly became saturated, which resulted in the game being called off.

BCS Grosvenor 2nd’s
recent run of good form is over following a seven-wicket loss at Warfield
.

Despite
a knock of 45 from Ahmet Tuney, the visitors were unable to reach a par
score, with Grosvenor offering 163-5 from their allotted overs.

The hosts made light work of the chase, losing just three batsmen as they returned to winning ways.

The Warfield innings included a knock of 60 from John Curran. He was well supported by David Wilson, who enjoyed a hit of 44.

Crowthorne
were looking to avenge last week’s first defeat of the season at Emmbrook & Bearwood when they travelled to Peppard.

But not a single ball was bowled at Stoke Row Road, as persistent rain waterlogged the pitch.

Farley Hill
slipped to a fifth Division 1 loss of the season when they entertained Stratfield Turgis.

Averaging
a wicket every six overs, the home side will have been pleased with their afternoon’s work in the field, having restricted Stratfield to a modest
128-6 from 35 overs.

But
Farley’s mediocre season with the bat continued, as they totalled little over half of their required target before the last batsmen was removed with the score on just 69.

Waltham St Lawrence
had the better of the draw at Ibis Mapledurham – despite having to defend a score of 128-4.

Another game affected by the weather saw Waltham given just 28 overs to post a competitive score.

And
things looked promising when openers Paul Gearing and Russell Hawkins shared an opening stand of 36 before the latter was run out on 11.

Gearing went on to hit a top score of 38.

The innings soon took a wobble and the visitors found themselves on 79-4.

Unbeaten
knocks of 23 and 24 from Ashif Jaufer and Chris England respectively, however, guided the villagers past the 100 mark and something to defend in the field.

Fresh from his spell at the crease, Gearing led the attack with the ball, finishing with 3-30.

But
the win was always going to be a big ask – and so it proved – as Mapledurham comfortably held out to collect seven points from a draw.

Crown Wood
looked on target to set a competitive score during their game with Goring.

Yet
their hopes of a second successive victory were washed out on a score of 101-3 after 29 overs, when bad weather forced the fixture to be abandoned.